In a nail-biting encounter that had Brazilian fans on the edge of their seats, the Seleção escaped an embarrassing defeat against Chile in their South American World Cup qualifiers. The match, played in Santiago, saw Brazil missing their star players Neymar and Vinicius Junior, adding to the pressure on coach Dorival Junior.
Chile, eager to upset the favorites, dominated the early stages of the game, putting Brazil on the back foot. The pressure mounted on Brazil, with fans and even President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressing their dissatisfaction with the team’s performance.
However, just when all hope seemed lost, two young players from Botafogo, Igor Jesus and Luiz Henrique, emerged as unlikely heroes. Both strikers came off the bench in the second half and delivered the crucial goals that turned the tide of the match. Igor Jesus broke the deadlock with a stunning strike in the 80th minute, before Luiz Henrique sealed the victory with a late goal in the 88th minute.
The dramatic win came as a huge relief for coach Dorival Junior, who had faced intense scrutiny over his tactics and team selection. The victory also highlighted the potential of the Botafogo duo, putting pressure on the coach to give them more playing time in future matches.
With Brazil narrowly escaping defeat in Santiago, all eyes will now turn to their next qualifier against Peru. The Seleção will be hoping for a more convincing performance against the Peruvians, and will be looking to their young stars to continue their impressive form.